What might have gone wrong?

[manzinilox]

Hey guys,

i've found an 89 (j) spec Legacy RS like 800 metres from my house, it's apparently been sitting there (outside, under gum trees) for nearly a whole year. The duco's RatSh_t, but what should i be looking at also being wrong with it, considering it's been sitting outside for the best part of over a year? it apparently runs and looks like a very sweet car under the tree sap and other misc. sh_t.

It's an import to Australia from japan, the owner lives interstate and the house it's rotting at is for sale. Does anyone have a clue what it's worth, or what i should offer, what's gonna be wrong with it etc. before i do something really rash and offer whoever's behind the front door $800 to move it (to my place) for her?

any comments?

David (Melbourne, Australia)

[AWD_addict]

Do gum trees tend to mess up paint? Check all the rubber bits at least.

[douglas vincent]

$800 is a good buy........IF.....you are mechanically inclined.

An 89 is basically the first year of the legacies, meaning it is an old ass car, needing alot of love. And unless you are able to fix stuff yourself, walk away real fast. But if you are willing to get yourself elbow deep in grease and gas, then you may be able to get a good deal.

First off, if you can stick a new battery in the car and drive it home, it passes the first test.

But first!!!!! Check the oil. if it has white milcky qualities, it has a blown head gasket or worse.

If the clutch makes alot of noise or slips when shifting, it has a bad clutch that needs replacing.

If it smoke like a mutherfukker, then it has bad rings, valves or worse.

All is fixable. If you are a good mechanic, you can rebuild the heads, rings, new pistons, new clutch, new brakes (including rotors and pads) for about $800 parts, but 40 hours of labor. Whats it worth to you?

[manzinilox]

Doug

Don't forget that i'm in AUS, not USA lol, i realise it's an old car, but the other car's i'm looking at are Mazda RX-7's, also notoriously expensive. i don't mind spending a few dollars (if i can get it home) to get it looking and running well, then sell it fir what it's really worth. i just don't like seeing it there rotting (call me a good samaritan or whatever )

The reason i'm conteplating this particular one is because the house it's at is for sale. The guy who aparrently owns it live in sydney (nearly 1200km's away), and it's his mums house. I'm pretty sure the car WAS fine mechanically (according to the neighbour, the owner wasn't home) when it was last driven.

What i'm asking, is what may have happened to the car while it's been sitting. for example, i've heard from someone that fuel can go off after about a year (doesn't combust as well as it should?) and the battery is sure to be flat as a tack.

I don't really care about the exterior etc. until i get it home, but what should i check for, to make sure i'm not gonna get half way home (seriously under a k on back suburban streets) and suddenly somethings gonna go bust. pushing a car UP a hill is embarassing.

i know there's no guarentee's that it will make it home but has anyone ever tried to move a car that's been ignored for a year or 2? what problems did you encounter?

Any other thoughts?

ManziniLoX

[manzinilox]

Do gum trees tend to mess up paint? Check all the rubber bits at least.

not really, sure, i thought maybe someone else might know